40 INTRODUCTION. 



that it reaches to half the dimensions of the Great 

 Greenland Whale. In comparison of this extraor- 

 dinary size, all merely terrestrial animals sink into 

 insignificance, and hence we cannot wonder that 

 this animal has received the name of the Elephant 

 Seal. There are others which attain very huge 

 dimensions ; and most well educated persons must 

 have heard something of those objects of astonish- 

 ment, described by mariners under the various names 

 of Sea-Lions and Sea-Leopards, Sea-Bears and 

 Wolves, Sea- Horses, Cows, and Calves, Sea-Dogs, 

 Swine, Hares, and Apes, which, we shall show, are 

 nothing more than some of the names applied to the 

 animals we are about to describe, and which are 

 really not less interesting than their terrestrial name- 

 sakes. 



" In the waters we may see all creatures. 

 Even all that on the earth are to be found, 

 As if the world were in deep waters drown'd." 



It must not, however, be supposed, that it is from 

 approximating to the marvellous that our subject 

 derives its only, or even its chief claim to attention, 

 A moment's consideration evinces that the external 

 circumstances of most of these animals, and, conse- 

 quently, their habits, must be altogether peculiar. 

 The Amphibious Carnivora are formed on the same 

 general model as other quadrupeds, and yet the land 

 is to them a strange and unwonted element. Their 

 usual abode is in the sea ; and hence there must be 

 interesting modifications whereby their structure is 



